The Indo-Naga peace talks, after Isak Chishi Swu

At a time when Nagas as well as observers from India and abroad showed signs of unease on the news of the death of Isak Chisi Swu the strong stand taken by the groups participating in the talks and the stakeholders is reassuring indeed. From the time the health of the Late chairman of the NSCN deteriorated there were immense speculations from different quarters of imminent deadlock in the talks especially on tribal interests. It is no doubt as always attributed partly to some external hand ‘playing god’ to manufacture consent with ‘expert opinions ‘as done across the world with the use of media. However all the leaders stating that the talks are in the right track and an imminent settlement soon in the offing is worth noting at such a critical juncture and at a time when a vacuum has been created. Moreover though in grieve and in sorrow the camaraderie that the leaders of both sides are displaying speaks volumes of the crucial stage of where the talks are at. The General Secretary of the NSCN, Th Muivah was the first to state that a there will be a solution soon and that there has been progress in the talks. Later in the memorial service at New Delhi he informed to the gathering that the Indian leaders are becoming rational and are coming forward and appealed to all that it is the finest opportunity to understand the Indian leaders. He went a step further to caution that Nagas cannot go on blaming the Indian leaders but it is time for us to understand who the Indian leaders are. Though with mixed emotions and with some apprehensions that after such a long journey if Naga people are not ready to accept what they have achieved, the message was clear.
Similarly RN Ravi, the interlocutor to the Indo-Naga peace talks was more straight forward and mincing no words stated that Nagas need to win and if Nagas win everybody wins. He also categorically stated that the dream of Isak Chishi Swu has to be accomplished and the living should not fail his dreams. Such a statement from the emissary of the government of India himself should clear the doubts of many who are constantly trying to play within the tribal lines of the Nagas.
The admission of Swaraj Kaushal of the earlier failures of the government of India on starting dialogue with the Nagas who was then represented my AZ Phizo indicates the seriousness and also to get the attention of the many Indian leaders who have less information on the Indo-Naga issue. With age comes wisdom but unfortunately the age of most of the Naga leaders are quite advanced and age will take its toll on most of them in the very near future. Swaraj Kaushal rightly pointed out to the Indian Leaders and all the stakeholders as a word of caution that if “If we are late we may end up being too late”
The fulfilment of Isak’s dream as the emissary to the government of India has promised will depend a lot on the actual stakeholders, the Naga public. On a day when Nagas across all political groups, tribal lines and across borders could come together to pay their due respects to their departed leader Isak Chisi Swu, the world awaits in bated breath if the Naga people have the ability to dream big like him and accomplish his dream.